I felt like some nurses [at Laurel Fertility] were good (Meredith was great!) and some were not. Donna seemed inexperienced and often kind of casual about everything...This clinic seems disorganized and impersonal...Often had mix-ups with scheduling. no one had any good concrete information on BASIC questions like: how & when to order meds, how and where to transfer our frozen embryos for long-term storage, no one wakes us through all the legal paperwork, no one ever gave us injection classes, etc. things they must deal with ALL the time!

+ Read more

Age

32

Treated

2014

Success with this Doc

Yes

Race

European

Income

$200K - $499K

Occupation

Marketer or PR

Order & Number of Docs Seen

1 Doc Seen

Treatment

1 IVF

Diagnosis

Male Factor

1

Describe your experience with Laurel Fertility Care.

This clinic seems disorganized and impersonal.

During treatment, did you feel like you were treated like a number or a human?

I was given a treatment plan that seems very "standard"...not tailored specifically to me or my partner's unique situation.

Describe your experience with your nurse.

I felt like some nurses were good (Meredith was great!) and some were not. Donna seemed inexperienced and often kind of casual about everything. it was all kind of hit or miss. Some were great at drawing blood, others were horrible. Some were kind and warm, others were not. I never really developed a relationship with any of them, which is kind of incredible given the emotional experience that IVF is.

What specific things went wrong at this clinic?

Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy

Lost appointments

Failed to call with results

Provided conflicting information

How was your experience with Collin Smikle?

He has a cold and clinical bedside manner. Very much an "I'm the Doctor and you're the patient, so just do what I say because I'm the expert." Needed to ask a lot of questions to get he information I wanted.

What one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Collin Smikle?

This is an emotional journey, if you're looking for reassurance, awarm caring doctor who seems personally invested in you and your spouse and your journey...he is NOT it.

Describe the protocols Collin Smikle used in your cycles and their degree of success.

I did a standard IVF cycle. Lupron, gonal F, etc. halfway through the stimulation phase they measured and saw I had 33 follicles growing. Though I was then at risk of developing OHsS, the protocol was not changed. I went on to harvest 44 eggs - and had extreme OHSS which cause us to freeze-all for that cycle. It took 6 weeks to recover and do a frozen transfer. I think, with more careful monitoring and and adjustment in my mess (reducing the amount) I could have avoided a lot of the suffering the OHSS caused.

Describe the costs associated with your care under Collin Smikle.

We were covered by insurance. We had a $30 copay each visit

1

Doctor

Collin Smikle

Communication

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Frequency seen during appointments

1

Clinic

Laurel Fertility Care

San Francisco

Nursing

Operations

Scheduling

Billing

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

– Read less

2

Age

38

Treated

2014

Success with this Doc

No

Treatment

2 IUI, 4 IVF, 2 Embryo Freezing

Diagnosis

—

2

Things that went wrong [at Laurel Fertility Care] have been described in other areas of this review. In summary, lack of concern with major side affects from injections, failed calls with monitoring hormone levels, hyper stimulation, lack of compassion, and compromised medical data...Parking is costly in the clinics building. The front desk/lobby has no audio privacy, your conversations with the front desk staff is heard by everyone in the lobby. The ultrasound machine has been one of the best (clear imaging) from all clinics. The egg retrieval room doesn't feel like an operation room which is a positive but also concerned me if it was sterile. We did not see the embryology lab therefore cannot comment. The clinic is small, clean and in a nice SF building. The bathroom was equipped with feminine hygiene products (tampons, pads, wipes). I found this really nice after appointments for clean up.

+ Read more

Age

38

Treated

2014

Success with this Doc

No

Race

Latino

Income

$500K

Occupation

Engineer

Order & Number of Docs Seen

3rd of 5 Docs

Treatment

2 IUI, 4 IVF, 2 Embryo Freezing

Diagnosis

—

2

Describe your experience with Laurel Fertility Care.

Parking is costly in the clinics building. The front desk/lobby has no audio privacy, your conversations with the front desk staff is heard by everyone in the lobby. The ultrasound machine has been one of the best (clear imaging) from all clinics. The egg retrieval room doesn't feel like an operation room which is a positive but also concerned me if it was sterile. We did not see the embryology lab therefore cannot comment. The clinic is small, clean and in a nice SF building. The bathroom was equipped with feminine hygiene products (tampons, pads, wipes). I found this really nice after appointments for clean up.

During treatment, did you feel like you were treated like a number or a human?

Felt like a human because of one nurse who was always happy to see us, responded to my inquires in a timely manner.

Describe your experience with the nursing staff.

If they were unsure they'd quickly get an answer. They always greeted us with a smile, cared about our cycle and showed compassion with my OHSS symptoms and miscarriage.

What specific things went wrong at this clinic?

Lost paperwork

Failed to call with results

Failed to consider drug intolerance

How was your experience with Collin Smikle?

Dr. Smikle had no bedside manner and didn't prepare for any appointment. Majority of the time we sat across his desk in silence as he reviewed and typed up our protocol. Very awkward. When I began to have major side affects to the growth hormone he didn't seem concerned. When I hyperstimulated he also wasn't too concerned even after I ended up in the emergency room. He was unapologetic when we miscarried. My biggest complaint is the lack of medical information protection we experienced at the clinic. At each appointment the ultrasound screen would show the last patient full name, date of birth and last image taken. They didn't sign out of the machine after each appointment. The front desk area had no privacy, everyone waiting for an appointment can here us verifying our names, date of birth, payment details, at some point I wrote down my social security number so that no one could here it. The positive was I got pregnant, the negative was the OHSS and miscarriage. The nurses were friendly but left the clinic shortly after our cycle ended. Overall it was an awkward cycle and experience.

What one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Collin Smikle?

Describe the protocols Collin Smikle used in your cycles and their degree of success.

Estrogen primed Antagonist with growth hormone. I do terribly on birth control, Dr. Smikle agreed to work with my natural cycle which other clinics at the time wouldn't. Due to previous miscarriage he had had me on baby aspirin and a steroid as an anti-inflammatory. The growth hormone wasn't explained. The overall result was Pregnancy with hyperstimulation followed by a miscarriage. I was on medical leave for 3 months and it took 1 year to gain my health back. For a year we couldn't do IVF treatment which was super upsetting.

2

Doctor

Collin Smikle

Communication

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Frequency seen during appointments

2

Clinic

Laurel Fertility Care

San Francisco

Nursing

Operations

Scheduling

Billing

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

– Read less

10

Age

—

Treated

—

Success with this Doc

Yes

Treatment

1 IVF

Diagnosis

Unexplained

10

I have only positive things to say about Natalie [nurse at Laurel Fertility Care]. She's extremely knowledgeable, likeable, thorough, understandable, and organized. I really cannot imagine anyone better at this job than Natalie...Strengths: Everything runs on time and smoothly. Everyone is extremely friendly. Weaknesses: We think their patient info sheets outlining all of the steps of IVF, etc., and insurance/payment info could be improved to make things more clear. The eIVF app is absolutely terrible to use. Communication is very inefficient through the app because you can't keep a single conversation chain going. I'm constantly having to re-download the app because it is very buggy.

+ Read more

Age

—

Treated

—

Success with this Doc

Yes

Race

European, East Asian

Income

$200K - $499K

Occupation

Business Executive

Order & Number of Docs Seen

2nd of 2 Docs

Treatment

1 IVF

Diagnosis

Unexplained

10

Describe your experience with Laurel Fertility Care.

Strengths: Everything runs on time and smoothly. Everyone is extremely friendly.
Weaknesses: We think their patient info sheets outlining all of the steps of IVF, etc., and insurance/payment info could be improved to make things more clear. The eIVF app is absolutely terrible to use. Communication is very inefficient through the app because you can't keep a single conversation chain going. I'm constantly having to re-download the app because it is very buggy.

During treatment, did you feel like you were treated like a number or a human?

The very first thing she asked me was "How are you feeling?" I have never had a doctor ask me that before. She also asks me things outside of my treatment questions. I like that.

Describe your experience with your nurse.

I have only positive things to say about Natalie. She's extremely knowledgeable, likeable, thorough, understandable, and organized. I really cannot imagine anyone better at this job than Natalie.

What specific things went wrong at this clinic?

Failed to convey critical information

How was your experience with Geraldine Ekpo?

Pros: Very thorough, knowledgeable, articulate, and has a good bedside manner. Explains concepts very well. I never feel rushed ever. She makes sure all of my questions are answered.
Cons: In the very beginning, we felt a little in the dark about all of the steps in the process and the time everything would take, before we proactively asked.

What one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Geraldine Ekpo?

There's a LOT of information when it comes to IVF. Do your research and ask lots of questions. Make sure to double check all matters pertaining to insurance yourself.

Describe the costs associated with your care under Geraldine Ekpo.

We paid $2k for PGS through a 3rd party provider and just a few hundred dollars for medications not covered fully by insurance. Other than this, all costs were covered by insurance.

10

Doctor

Geraldine Ekpo

Communication

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Frequency seen during appointments

10

Clinic

Laurel Fertility Care

San Francisco

Nursing

Operations

Scheduling

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

– Read less

10

Age

—

Treated

—

Success with this Doc

Yes

Treatment

3 IUI, 1 IVF

Diagnosis

—

10

The whole time, Dr. Smikle, Donna my nurse, and the rest of the staff [at Laurel Fertility] were always available to answer any questions, fill my prescriptions with the lowest cost possible options, and even give me a shot or 2 when I was initially scared to do it myself. In short, I felt like they treated my like they would a good friend...not just a patient.... Strengths: Personalization. Communication. Staff. Doctors. You definitely never feel like you are just a number and you never feel rushed. They always make you feel special and listened to.

+ Read more

Age

—

Treated

—

Success with this Doc

Yes

Race

European

Income

$500K

Occupation

—

Order & Number of Docs Seen

1 Doc Seen

Treatment

3 IUI, 1 IVF

Diagnosis

—

10

Describe your experience with Laurel Fertility Care.

Strengths: Personalization. Communication. Staff. Doctors. You definitely never feel like you are just a number and you never feel rushed. They always make you feel special and listened to.
Weaknesses: Having a doctor who travels between clinics can be hard, especially when you re scheduling a transfer or extraction. But I felt comfortable in everyone's hands and luckily Dr. Smikle was always able to be there for my procedures.

During treatment, did you feel like you were treated like a number or a human?

I was referred to Dr. Smikle by my OBGYN after an ultrasound revealed that I had endometriosis that was potentially affecting my fertility. My husband and I had been trying to conceive naturally for about a year with no luck and, while not quite desperate, we were definitely looking for a different and hopefully more successful approach. I actually remember how comforted I felt the first time Dr. Smikle shook my hand...I just knew I was in the right place. At my initial consultation, after the exam, he worked with me to outline a plan on how to proceed. I wasn't quite ready to try IVF, so we started with Chlomid and IUI, but with the knowledge that I would likely have to try IVF if we wanted to have more than one child. After 3 unsuccessful attempts with IUI, we decided to switch to IVF, which is an intimate, intricate and sometimes very difficult process. The whole time, Dr. Smikle, Donna my nurse, and the rest of the staff were always available to answer any questions, fill my prescriptions with the lowest cost possible options, and even give me a shot or 2 when I was initially scared to do it myself. In short, I felt like they treated my like they would a good friend...not just a patient. When the first round of IVF didn't work, I felt like everyone involved cared just as much as we did...and the thing I loved most was, after they comforted me, we all went straight back into planning mode. Dr. Smikle wanted to try something a little different, just so we didn't keep doing the same thing with the same result, and, when my second round of worked, I felt like the whole office was cheering for us. They even asked to see the ultrasound pictures...which I'm sure they have seen a million tiny gray "kidney beans" on a piece of paper...but when it's your "gray kidney bean" it's pretty special.
In short, my experience at Laurel Fertility was exceptional..The service was incredibly personalized and professional and Dr. Smikle and the entire office staff were always available (on the first ring of the phone) to answer any questions I had...I look froward to going back for baby number 2!

Describe your experience with your nurse.

Donna was amazing. She was always available to answer questions and help with the medicine. I couldn't imagine trying this process without her.

How was your experience with Collin Smikle?

Dr. Smikle is amazing. While he is clearly very intelligent, he also has a great bedside manner and explains things in a way that is easy for the layman to understand. When my treatment was done and I had to switch back to my regular OBGYN i was actually sad.

What one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Collin Smikle?

Come with a list of questions. He will take the time to answer all of them.

Describe the protocols Collin Smikle used in your cycles and their degree of success.

3 IUI - after 2 negative results he recommended we switch to IVF because he didn't think another IUI would be successful but I asked for one more since I already had enough medicine to move forward.
2 IVF... one with progesterone and estrogen injections and one without. After the first round didn't work, he suggested trying something different. We essentially "tricked" my body into thinking it got pregnant naturally. and it worked

Describe the costs associated with your care under Collin Smikle.

IUI medicines
IVF medicines
Ultrasound Appointments

10

Doctor

Collin Smikle

Communication

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Frequency seen during appointments

10

Clinic

Laurel Fertility Care

San Francisco

Nursing

Operations

Scheduling

Billing

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

– Read less

10

Age

—

Treated

—

Success with this Doc

Yes

Treatment

5 IUI, 1 IVF

Diagnosis

PCOS

10

I love all the doctors, nurses and front desk staff and lab people and everyone who works at Laurel Fertility Care. Laurel Fertility is SO organized, they never make me wait long, everyone there is friendly and wonderful. They call in prescriptions for you to your preferred pharmacy. I never had an issue with payment/insurance not going through...Donna and Natalie were the nurses who had to deal w/me the most. They are WONDERFUL. I cannot praise them enough.

+ Read more

Age

—

Treated

—

Success with this Doc

Yes

Race

European

Income

$100K - $199K

Occupation

Operations

Order & Number of Docs Seen

1 Doc Seen

Treatment

5 IUI, 1 IVF

Diagnosis

PCOS

10

Describe your experience with Laurel Fertility Care.

I love all the doctors, nurses and front desk staff and lab people and everyone who works at Laurel Fertility Care. Laurel Fertility is SO organized, they never make me wait long, everyone there is friendly and wonderful. They call in prescriptions for you to your preferred pharmacy. I never had an issue with payment/insurance not going through.

During treatment, did you feel like you were treated like a number or a human?

Dr. Ekpo and all the nurses/staff who work there make you feel like you are their only patient.

Describe your experience with your nurse.

Donna and Natalie were the nurses who had to deal w/me the most. They are WONDERFUL. I cannot praise them enough. Natalie was there during my egg retrieval which was suddenly unnecessarily scary for me, I was crying and she was so darn nice and cute and sweet and made me feel better.

How was your experience with Geraldine Ekpo?

Dr Ekpo is so smart and gracious and beautiful, I can't recommend her enough. I never felt bullied or uncomfortable (which is how I felt with my first fertility doctor). Dr. Ekpo always went over my options with me and we made decisions together, she always made me feel comfortable/reassured. I never had to wait long to see her, she wouldn't rush me out and always spent an appropriate amount of time with me. She would see me on the weekend when necessary and give me a heads up on who would be her coverage if she was going to be away.

What one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Geraldine Ekpo?

Go see her.

Describe the protocols Geraldine Ekpo used in your cycles and their degree of success.

I have PCOS - irregular/no periods - I went through several unsuccessful cycles of IUI using Letrozole and Ovidrel. Then we added Gonal-F in with an increased dosage of Letrozole but it made too many follicles so we switched mid-cycle to IVF and I had to add more Gonal F and Ganirelix and HCG. Then I had my egg retrieval. Then I was on Estrace and Endometrin before my transfer through 8 weeks into my pregnancy then kept taking the Endometrin up until 10 weeks pregnant.

Describe the costs associated with your care under Geraldine Ekpo.

I only paid co-pays for my visits, everything else went through insurance.

10

Doctor

Geraldine Ekpo

Communication

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Frequency seen during appointments

10

Clinic

Laurel Fertility Care

San Francisco

Nursing

Operations

Scheduling

Billing

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

– Read less

10

Age

—

Treated

—

Success with this Doc

Yes

Treatment

1 IUI, 1 IVF, Egg Freezing, Embryo Freezing

Diagnosis

Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Poor Egg Quality

10

The clinic [Laurel SF] is small but provides wonderful personalized care. I honestly can't think of any weaknesses; our experience was about as great as you can hope for during infertility treatments and the IVF process. We experienced several problems with the insurance company and received several rejections of legitimate claims. Dr. Ekpo worked with us to escalate the claim process and drafted a personal letter to the insurance company describing my diagnosis and the details of the treatment.

+ Read more

Age

—

Treated

—

Success with this Doc

Yes

Race

European, Native American

Income

$200K - $499K

Occupation

Consultant

Order & Number of Docs Seen

1st of 2 Docs

Treatment

1 IUI, 1 IVF, Egg Freezing, Embryo Freezing

Diagnosis

Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Poor Egg Quality

10

Describe your experience with Laurel Fertility Care.

The clinic is small but provides wonderful personalized care. I honestly can't think of any weaknesses; our experience was about as great as you can hope for during infertility treatments and the IVF process.
We experienced several problems with the insurance company and received several rejections of legitimate claims. Dr. Ekpo worked with us to escalate the claim process and drafted a personal letter to the insurance company describing my diagnosis and the details of the treatment.

During treatment, did you feel like you were treated like a number or a human?

Dr. Ekpo handled all of my ultrasounds and follicle counts in-person at each session. She conducted all of my procedures, ran my analysis and kept me up-to-date with everything on a daily basis. We were in constant contact and I felt like an individual patient.

Describe your experience with your nurse.

I had a primary care nurse that took care of my medication and any questions. There were also nurses to support the blood draws and a specialized nurse for the retrieval and transfer. I only interacted with the embryologists after the retrieval and before the transfer.
Laurel also has an EXCELLENT support staff of administrators that handle the billing and insurance issues.

How was your experience with Geraldine Ekpo?

Dr. Ekpo performed all of my procedures, and we went through the process slow and steady, step-by-step together. She recommended a holistic and comprehensive treatment that involved supplements, dietary adjustments and acupuncture. Throughout the process, I felt like I was getting the best care possible.

What one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Geraldine Ekpo?

She knows the science and latest research and you will be in good hands. She is straightforward, thorough, and comprehensive.

Describe the protocols Geraldine Ekpo used in your cycles and their degree of success.

We went directly to IVF, due to my diagnosis and hormone levels. I was on a cocktail of Gonal F, Menopur and Lupron. I was also on a number of supplements plus estrogen followed by progesterone. And, there were some dietary restrictions and acupuncture recommendations.

Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments.

I went in for monitoring according to my schedule and the process was quick and efficient. Dr. Ekpo handled all of my monitoring and ultrasounds, and we debriefed after each appointment. My meetings with Dr. Ekpo were followed with check-ins with the nurses about the protocol/medicines/etc. and then someone would call me with the blood test results. Everything was very well-organized.

Describe the costs associated with your care under Geraldine Ekpo.

I think the all-inclusive number was around 15K - but insurance ended up covering the majority of the cost.

10

Doctor

Geraldine Ekpo

Communication

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Frequency seen during appointments

10

Clinic

Laurel Fertility Care

San Francisco

Nursing

Operations

Scheduling

Billing

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

– Read less

10

Age

29

Treated

2016

Success with this Doc

Yes

Treatment

2 IUI, 1 IVF

Diagnosis

Diminished Ovarian Reserve

10

For the most part the main nurse was on top of things. She was able to explain the meds and coach us on the injections. She is typically very responsive via email. At times I think she can be a little curt in emails which is frustrating during a process like this. There were a few times she was not 100 percent clear about medication changes which was upsetting as well...It [Laurel Fertility Care] is very small which allows them to treat each patient as such rather than a number in a huge hospital. The staff remember you they are warm and compassionate which make the entire experience less stressful.

+ Read more

Age

29

Treated

2016

Success with this Doc

Yes

Race

Other

Income

—

Occupation

—

Order & Number of Docs Seen

1 Doc Seen

Treatment

2 IUI, 1 IVF

Diagnosis

Diminished Ovarian Reserve

10

Describe your experience with Laurel Fertility Care.

It is very small which allows them to treat each patient as such rather than a number in a huge hospital. The staff remember you they are warm and compassionate which make the entire experience less stressful.

During treatment, did you feel like you were treated like a number or a human?

she took the time to speak with us at every appointment. I was not passed off to a nurse. She remembered my partners name even though he wasn't at many of the early appointments. She was very kind and sincere about everything.

Describe your experience with your nurse.

For the most part the main nurse was on top of things. She was able to explain the meds and coach us on the injections. She is typically very responsive via email. At times I think she can be a little curt in emails which is frustrating during a process like this. There were a few times she was not 100 percent clear about medication changes which was upsetting as well.

What specific things went wrong at this clinic?

Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy

Failed to inform you of changes in protocol

How was your experience with Geraldine Ekpo?

She was very warm from the first visit she was optimistic. She explained everything she always made herself available via phone or email. I cannot express enough how amazing she is. She felt more like a friend of the family then my doctor. Amazing bedside manner. If we have to go this route for the next baby I hope to use her again.

10

Doctor

Geraldine Ekpo

Communication

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Frequency seen during appointments

10

Clinic

Laurel Fertility Care

San Francisco

Nursing

Operations

Scheduling

Billing

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

– Read less

10

Age

—

Treated

—

Success with this Doc

Yes

Treatment

2 IUI, IVF

Diagnosis

—

10

Laurel is great, we never had to wait in the lobby, the team is very prompt and very respectful of appointment times. The billing is great since everything is electronic which makes it easy to submit to FSA, no scanning of receipts....[Nurse] Francesca Perrone was very kind, patient and extremely knowledgeable. She very patient and reassuring when teaching us how to do injections.... I believe I spent ~$6,500 out of pocket, which includes copays, vitamins, blood tests, fertility drugs, embryo freezing and a service to administer shots.

+ Read more

Age

—

Treated

—

Success with this Doc

Yes

Race

Latino

Income

$200K - $499K

Occupation

Consultant

Order & Number of Docs Seen

2nd of 2 Docs

Treatment

2 IUI, IVF

Diagnosis

—

10

Describe your experience with Laurel Fertility Care.

Laurel is great, we never had to wait in the lobby, the team is very prompt and very respectful of appointment times. The billing is great since everything is electronic which makes it easy to submit to FSA, no scanning of receipts.

During treatment, did you feel like you were treated like a number or a human?

We were always treated with kindness and respect.

Describe your experience with your nurse.

Francesca Perrone was very kind, patient and extremely knowledgeable. She very patient and reassuring when teaching us how to do injections.

How was your experience with Geraldine Ekpo?

My husband and I are so incredibly grateful we found Dr. Geraldine Ekpo and her team. Dr. Ekpo was extremely understanding, patient and up beat throughout a process that otherwise would have been very unpleasant. She always clearly explained every single procedure, listed to our concerns and questions as well as took our input and always made us feel as if we were part of the decision making process. Dr. Ekpo is very knowledgeable about IVF and genetic testing.

What one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Geraldine Ekpo?

No advice, you will love her.

Describe the protocols Geraldine Ekpo used in your cycles and their degree of success.

I did an IVF procedure with mine and my husbands day 5 embryos, we transferred 2 and now I am 10 weeks pregnant with 1 baby girl. I will continue to take endometrium and estradiol until the end of my 1st trimester.

Describe the costs associated with your care under Geraldine Ekpo.

I have medical insurance, that cover fertility treatment and drugs, however I believe I spent ~$6,500 out of pocket, which includes copays, vitamins, blood tests, fertility drugs, embryo freezing and a service to administer shots.

10

Doctor

Geraldine Ekpo

Communication

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Frequency seen during appointments

10

Clinic

Laurel Fertility Care

San Francisco

Nursing

Operations

Scheduling

Billing

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

– Read less

9

Age

42

Treated

2012

Success with this Doc

?

Treatment

IVF, Egg Freezing, Donor Eggs, Surrogacy

Diagnosis

Poor Egg Quality

9

It is a smaller, personal office. It does not have the reputation of some of the big SF places, but he was great. Since we were on our 3rd round, and since IVF is pricey and I was a tricky patient, he actually told us upon miscarriage that CCRM would be our best bet. He did not try to oversell us, and he guided us to go there.

+ Read more

Age

42

Treated

2012

Success with this Doc

?

Race

European

Income

$500K

Occupation

Marketer or PR

Order & Number of Docs Seen

3rd of 3 Docs

Treatment

IVF, Egg Freezing, Donor Eggs, Surrogacy

Diagnosis

Poor Egg Quality

9

During treatment, did you feel like you were treated like a number or a human?

He was the only point of contact, no shuffling to the dr on call. He coordinated with my other doctors since I have other health issues, and he treated me like a WHOLE person. So different than the other places I tried.

Describe your experience with the nursing staff.

Sadly I dont' remember, but I can tell you that I do remember the negative things at other places so I think all was smooth.

How was your experience with Collin Smikle?

It is a smaller, personal office. It does not have the reputation of some of the big SF places, but he was great. Since we were on our 3rd round, and since IVF is pricey and I was a tricky patient, he actually told us upon miscarriage that CCRM would be our best bet. He did not try to oversell us, and he guided us to go there.

What one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Collin Smikle?

Get to know him and understand how the office works- it's closed one week a month and as an impatient ivf client, timing can be everything.

10

Doctor

Collin Smikle

Communication

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Frequency seen during appointments

9

Clinic

Laurel Fertility Care

San Francisco

Nursing

Operations

Scheduling

Billing

Educational Resources

– Read less

10

Age

35

Treated

2015

Success with this Doc

Yes

Treatment

3 IUI, Donor Sperm

Diagnosis

PCOS

10

[Dr. Smikle was] Funny,articulate, straight forward, knowledgable... It is a small office [at Laurel Fertility] so you get very personalized attention. The staff is wonderful....[The nurse] was very competent and responsive to questions and requests. I never felt rushed and she went out of her way to answer my questions.

+ Read more

Age

35

Treated

2015

Success with this Doc

Yes

Race

Black or African-American

Income

$100K - $199K

Occupation

—

Order & Number of Docs Seen

1st of 3 Docs

Treatment

3 IUI, Donor Sperm

Diagnosis

PCOS

10

During treatment, did you feel like you were treated like a number or a human?

It is a small office so you get very personalized attention. The staff is wonderful

Describe your experience with your nurse.

She was very competent and responsive to questions and requests. I never felt rushed and she went out of her way to answer my questions.

What specific things went wrong at this clinic?

Lost paperwork

How was your experience with Collin Smikle?

Funny,articulate, straight forward, knowledgable,

Describe the protocols Collin Smikle used in your cycles and their degree of success.

I have insurance coverage so I paid $200 per IUI Inc all ultrasounds and bloodwork.

10

Doctor

Collin Smikle

Communication

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Frequency seen during appointments

10

Clinic

Laurel Fertility Care

San Francisco

Nursing

Operations

Scheduling

Billing

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

– Read less

10

Age

35

Treated

2015

Success with this Doc

?

Treatment

1 IVF

Diagnosis

Unexplained

10

I felt like I was in good hands. He [Dr Smikle] was upfront and explained everything to us regd treatment. When we had questions he was willing go explain in great detail so we felt comfortable. He was open to communicate over email and phone. I had his cell and knew I could call whenever I needed him!

+ Read more

Age

35

Treated

2015

Success with this Doc

?

Race

South Asian

Income

—

Occupation

—

Order & Number of Docs Seen

1 Doc Seen

Treatment

1 IVF

Diagnosis

Unexplained

10

Describe your experience with Laurel Fertility Care.

It is a great clinic.

During treatment, did you feel like you were treated like a number or a human?

Dr Smikle was great! He talked about all the details, why he though we should do ivf. Also took into consideration my health problems. He was kind and considerate in his manner without being condescending - I really loved that.

How was your experience with Collin Smikle?

I felt like I was in good hands. He was upfront and explained everything to us regd treatment. When we had questions he was willing go explain in great detail so we felt comfortable. He was open to communicate over email and phone. I had his cell and knew I could call whenever I needed him!

What one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Collin Smikle?

Go with open mind, do your research and ask questions.

Describe the costs associated with your care under Collin Smikle.

I don't remember as my insurance covered all costs

10

Doctor

Collin Smikle

Communication

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Frequency seen during appointments

10

Clinic

Laurel Fertility Care

San Francisco

Nursing

Operations

Scheduling

Billing

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

– Read less

2

Age

38 - 40

Treated

2013 - 2015

Success with this Doc

Yes

Treatment

1 IUI

Diagnosis

PCOS

2

Dr Smikle [at Laurel Fertility Care] was competent but not a great communicator. The most frustrating/troubling part of my experience was he heavily relied on his staff for education and scheduling and his staff was completely incompetent, unprofessional and bad communicators. they made many mistakes with me and with 2 people I referred.

+ Read more

Age

38 - 40

Treated

2013 - 2015

Success with this Doc

Yes

Race

Native American

Income

$500K

Occupation

Marketer or PR

Order & Number of Docs Seen

1 Doc Seen

Treatment

1 IUI

Diagnosis

PCOS

2

During treatment, did you feel like you were treated like a number or a human?

Dr Smille is not warm but very direct

What specific things went wrong at this clinic?

Lost appointments

Failed to inform you of changes in protocol

Provided conflicting information

Failed to convey critical information

How was your experience with Collin Smikle?

Dr Smikle was competent but not a great communicator. The most frustrating/troubling part of my experience was he heavily relied on his staff for education and scheduling and his staff was completely incompetent, unprofessional and bad communicators. they made many mistakes with me and with 2 people I referred.

What one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Collin Smikle?

Interview him first about the changes he has made to his staff. Ask what measures are in place to ensure mistakes are not made and to give timely feedback about staff and the experience in general.

1

Doctor

Collin Smikle

Communication

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Frequency seen during appointments

2

Clinic

Laurel Fertility Care

San Francisco

Nursing

Operations

Scheduling

Billing

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

– Read less

10

Age

—

Treated

—

Success with this Doc

Yes

Treatment

3 IUI, Donor Sperm

Diagnosis

PCOS

10

Everyone in the office [at Laurel Fertility Care] is friendly and knows your name...They can be a bit disorganized. It is a small office so you get very personalized attention. The staff is wonderful...She was very competent and responsive to questions and requests. I never felt rushed and she went out of her way to answer my questions.

+ Read more

Age

—

Treated

—

Success with this Doc

Yes

Race

Black or African-American

Income

$100K - $199K

Occupation

—

Order & Number of Docs Seen

1st of 3 Docs

Treatment

3 IUI, Donor Sperm

Diagnosis

PCOS

10

Describe your experience with Laurel Fertility Care.

Everyone in the office is friendly and knows your name...They can be a bit disorganized.

During treatment, did you feel like you were treated like a number or a human?

It is a small office so you get very personalized attention. The staff is wonderful

Describe your experience with your nurse.

She was very competent and responsive to questions and requests. I never felt rushed and she went out of her way to answer my questions.

What specific things went wrong at this clinic?

Lost paperwork

How was your experience with Collin Smikle?

Funny,articulate, straight forward, knowledgable. Dr Smikle is hands on and very present. If he is there he makes time to do your ultrasounds and IUIs himself rather than having a nurse do it.

Describe the protocols Collin Smikle used in your cycles and their degree of success.